Spurs notebook: Parker ready to return to the lineup

Watching All-Star teammate Chris Paul pour in a season-high 36 points in the Clippers’ 120-108 victory over the Spurs on Friday was more painful for Tony Parker than the right quadriceps strain that kept him on the bench at the AT&T Center in a natty gray dress suit.

“It was tough (to sit) because I could see myself helping the team, but in the big picture, Pop convinced me to stay down,” Parker said of coach Gregg Popovich after a Sunday morning practice that quelled any fears the Spurs’ scoring leader might also miss tonight’s home game against the Washington Wizards.

Parker, 18th in the NBA in scoring (19.5 points per game) and ninth in assists (7.9 per game), had a brief chat with Paul just before Friday’s tipoff.

“He said he was surprised I wasn’t on the floor,” Parker said, “and he took advantage of it.”

Parker’s return means that second-year guard Gary Neal can slide back to his natural position of shooting guard for most of tonight’s game.

With backup point guard T.J. Ford sidelined against the Clippers after suffering a neck stinger in Wednesday’s win over the New York Knicks — and ruled out of today’s game as well — Neal started at the point.

Parker has been impressed with Neal’s development as a makeshift floor general.

“I give him tips and advice — time and score, plays you can call, stuff like that,” Parker said. “But he’s been dong a good job.”

Neal has taken a cue from Parker and developed his own version of the teardrop floater, Parker’s signature shot.

“Yeah, he’s got a pretty good one off one leg,” Parker said.

No longer free and easy: Before the All-Star break, Tim Duncan had made 72.8 percent of his free throws and was on pace to have the fourth-highest percentage of his 15-year career. In the five games since the break, he has made only 12 of 25 foul shots for 48 percent.

In Friday’s loss to the Clippers, Duncan attempted a season-high 11 free throws but made just three, his worst performance at the charity stripe in 2011-12.

As a result, his free-throw percentage has dipped below 70 percent for the first time all season (68.8 percent).

Ironically, Duncan has averaged 16.0 points in the five games since the break, slightly higher than his season average of 14.3 points.

Leonard happy where he is: A year ago, Spurs rookie Kawhi Leonard was caught up in March Madness as the star player at San Diego State, which made an NCAA tournament run to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual champion Connecticut.

Leonard has fond memories of Selection Sunday but no regrets about leaving school after his sophomore season.

“I miss it a little bit,” he said, “but this is where I wanted to be at the end of the day, so I’m happy right now.”